Casket latch



w.' L CLARK CASKE LATCH Dec. 2 1929.

Filed Dec. 1. 1926 ML-CLARK Patented Dec. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES WYCLIFFE L. CLARK, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK CASKET LATCH Application filed December 1, 1926.

This invention relates to an improvement in a casket latch, and more particularly to a fastening device which can be latched to secure the lid to the body of the casket.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a fastening device, which can be latched and instantaneously released, and which when latched fixes the lid securely to the body.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fastening device which can be latched, regardless of the thickness of the covering material between the lid and the body.

Other objects of this invention will appear from a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the drawings which form a part thereof, and in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a casket, equipped with fastening means embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a latch embodying this invention, shown in the open position;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the latch shown in the closed position;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view from below, showing the latch in the open position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing the latch in the closed position;

Fig. 6 is a perspective plan view of one of the latch elements, which is customarily se cured to the body of the casket, shown in the open position; and

Fig. 7 is a perspectivevicw of the other latch element, which is ordinarily secured to the lid of the casket.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 10 is employed to designate the body of the casket, which is provided with a lid 11 adapted to be rigidly secured thereto. It is customary, as shown in Figure 1, to provide fastening devices at the head and foot of the casket on each side thereof. The fastening devices at the foot, designated generally by the reference numeral 12 in Figure 1, are of the usual non-locking type.

The fastening device 12 comprises a slotted plate 13, which is fixed to the body 10 of the casket and a plate 14 secured to the lid 11 of the casket and having a projection 15. which Serial No. 151,877.

passes through a slot 16 formed in the plate 13. As shown in Figure 1, the projection is curved downwardly and forwardly, and enters through the slot 16 into a recess 17, provided in the body of the casket. The tip of the tongue 15 projects under the plate 13, so that when the parts are in position the lid cannot be separated from the casket at the foot by a direct upward pull, but must be drawn both rearwardly and upwardly. In order to facilitate this motion a oownwardly projecting tip 18 is provided as a guide at the forward end of the slot 16. The fastening device 12 shown and thus described is not novel, and forms no partof the present invention, except through its co-action with the other fastening device to be described.

The fastening devices 20, which are provided at each side of the head of the casket, embody the latching features which are believed to be new and novel, and each comprises elements 21 and 22. The element 21, which is here shown as secured to the lid of the casket, includes a disc 28, which is seated on the lid in a recess 24:. Rigidly secured to and extending at right angles from the disc 23 is a pro jection 25 having a forwardly projecting toe 26 and a rearwardly projecting heel 27.

The element 22 consists of a plate 28, in the face of which is formed a slot 29 and a lever 30 pivotally attached to the under side of the plate 28. The plate 28 is rigidly fixed to the body of the casket in a recess 31, below which is formed a cavity 32. The lever 30 is provided with a downwardly turned finger piece 33, at one end, a downwardly turned guide 34 at the other end, and an intermediate inclined portion 35, which is at a slightly obtuse angle to the main body of the lever 30. The lever 30 is free to turn at right angles to the body of the casket, and when in that position, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, the guide 34 projects below the forward end of the slot 29. The slot 29 is preferably formed, as shown in Figure 6, with a rectangular tip 36 and a triangular base 37. The portion 35 of the lever 30, when the lever 30 is closed, extends below the base 37 of the slot and so shortens the slot that the projection 25 cannot enter or leave it.

From the above description it will be noted that when the lever 30 is opened, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, the projection 25 is free to enter the slot 29, the heel 27 bearing on the guide 34 so that the projection 25 is directed into the position shown in Figure 2 with the toe 26 below the unslotted portion of the plate 28. The lever 30 is now closed into the position shown in Figures 3 and 5. lVhen this takes place the portion 35 of the lever, extending below the base 37 of the slot (see Figures 3 and 5), bears against the heel 27 of the projection 25, and forces the lid forwardly at the same time drawing it down against the body of the casket. The inclination of the portion 35 causes the forward impulse as the lever 30 is closed, while the rearwardly, downward inclination of the heel 27 draws the lid downwardly.

After the elements '21 and 22 have been fixed to the lid'and body of the casket, these parts are covered with material which extends between the edges of the lid and body. This material varies in thickness, and one advantage of this invention is the provision of a fastening device, which will latch under such conditions. This is obtained by reason of the inclination of the heel 27, with which the portion 35 of the lever 30 contacts, and which is such that regardless of the thickness' of the covering material the lever 30 will draw the lid down into close contact with the body. 1 It will follow that when a thick covering is used, the projection 25 will not extend so far into the cavity 32 as it would when a thinner covering is used. The portion 35 of the lever 30 must take the same posi tion when the leveris closed, and consequently it will move the lid further forward when the covering is thick than when it is thin. In every case, however, the lid will be brought into close contact with the body of the casket and all lost motion will be eliminated.

Furthermore, due to the forward impulse given tothe lid 11 through the engagement by the portion 35 of the levers 30 and the projections 25, the fastening devices 12 at the foot of the casket are also forced to advance further into the slots 16. The finger pieces 83, by which the levers 30 are opened and closed rest against the sides of the casket when the fastening devices 20 are latched, but can be quickly and easily grasped and the levers 3'0 opened, when desired to do so.

The lid 11 of the casket may be provided with a panel .lO'secured thereto by hinges, not shown,-but usually at the foot end of the casket. In order to fasten the panel 40 to the lid a latch, such as has been shown and described may be employed, 'if desired.

While one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, applicant is not limited thereto, since it is obvious that other embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this closed bears against the heel of said projection to latch said elements together.

2. A casket latch comprising two elements, one element including a projection having a forwardly projecting toe and a rearwardly projecting heel, and the other element comprising a plate having a slot through which the projection on said first named element extends, and a lever pivotally attached to the underside of said plate, and having an inclined portion at a slightly obtuse angle to the main body of the lever, which when said lever is closed, extends below one end of said slot and bears against the heel of said projection to latch said elements together.

3. A casket latch comprising two elements, one element including a projection having a forwardly projecting toe and a rearwardly projecting heel, and the other element comprising a plate having a slot, through which the projection on said first named element extends, and a lever pivotally attached to the underside of said plate, said lever having an inclined portion at a slightly obtuse angle to the main body and a downwardly turned guide at the end adjacent its pivotal attachment, which guide, when said lever is open, directs said projection into said slot, and which inclined portion, when said lever is closed, bears against said heel and latches said elements together.

4:- A casket latch including a plate having a slot therein and a lever pivotally attached to the underside of said-plate, said lever having a downwardly turned guide at the end adjacent its pivotal attachment, which guide, when said lever is in the open position, is at one end of said slot.

5. A casket latch comprising a plate having a slot therein, a lever pivotally attached to the underside of'said plate, adjacent one end of said slot, and a projection independent of said plate, but extending through the slot therein when said latch is assembled, said projection having an outwardly and clownwardly inclined portion with which said lever engages when said latch is closed, whereby said projection is drawn downwardly into said slot.

In testimony whereof I have ailixed my signature.

WYC. L. CLARK. 

